10 Who-Knew Uses for Aluminum Foil

You already know that aluminum foil is a kitchen must-have, but its pliable, metallic structure makes it super-useful all over the house. Here's why you should stock up:

1. Line cabinets and drawers.
Not only is the foil easy to clean with a damp sponge, but it will help reflect light in a cabinet's dark corners.

2. Polish silverware.
With this nifty trick, a chemical reaction causes tarnish to transfer from your silver flatware to the aluminum foil. Line a plastic bin with the foil (shiny side up), and place the silver pieces inside. Pour in a 1/4 cup washing soda, and a gallon of boiling water. Stir and let soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Get more details about this method here.

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3. Clean the grill.
A ball of foil makes quick work of de-gunking a grill of any burnt-on barbecue leftovers.

4. Protect pie crust.
Worried about burning your famous apple pie? Cover the edges with a ring cut out of aluminum foil to keep the crust from getting too brown.

5. Conceal a credit card.
If you have a "swipeless" credit card with an RFID chip (not a traditional card with a magnetic strip), it's possible that con artists can scan it and collect certain account information through your wallet. The risk is very minimal — these scans won't give thieves enough information to make a fraudulent purchase in your name. But if the thought still makes you uneasy, wrap your card in a piece of aluminum foil to deflect the scanner.

6. Scrub dishes.
Like steel wool, a ball of aluminum foil can help clean cookware you can give a good scrub, like glass casserole dishes or cast-iron skillets.

7. Scare away birds.
Chances are you love seeing brightly colored feathered friends around your garden, but if you have a fruit tree, you might not want birds feasting on your bounty. Like the reflective tape sold at garden stores, strips of aluminum foil hung in your tree can help keep them away.

8. Move heavy furniture.
Wrap the feet of your couch in a few layers of heavy duty foil to help scoot it across carpeting (but avoid using this trick on delicate surfaces or furniture that the foil could scratch).